Filipino-Chinese businessman Linconn Ong has denied any involvement in a Chinese company that, according to opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros, is involved in illegal gambling and human trafficking.
In a statement released by his lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, Ong denied any connection with Yatai International Holdings Group, which Hontiveros, in a privileged speech, claimed to have been providing a “safe haven” for illicit gaming and for organizing a “team of Filipino scammers in Myanmar”.
Topacio “urged” Hontiveros to “kindly take a second look at her pronouncements” linking the said company to Yatai International Corporation, and in turn, linking the same to Ong.
Topacio explained: “We can understand why Ms. Hontiveros may have been confused. ‘Yatai’ is a generic Chinese phrase meaning ‘Asia Pacific’ and is used as a brand name by many other businesses not even remotely related to each other, such as Yatai Spa and Yatai Ramen.”
“The use of the said generic term does not necessarily signify any business connection, in the same way that Megaworld, Mega sardines, and Megamall are totally unrelated to one another.”
While Topacio admitted that Ong had worked with Yatai International Corporation for some time, it was only “in the capacity of an employee, and Ong never owned any part of the said company” which, according to Topacio, has been in existence for more than twenty years, and only manufactures rechargeable lamps, electric fans and lightning fixtures under the name and style of “Omni.”
“These products are widely sold in all major hardware and department stores nationwide, and have gained a reputation for reliability and value for money,” Topacio said, adding that “the said company had never been involved in any illegal activity, least of all human trafficking.”
Yatai International Corporation is “a totally different entity from the company mentioned by the good Senator and named Yatai International Holdings Group, which is not connected with Yatai International Corporation in any shape, manner or form,” Topacio said.
